He ended up nowhere near the rabbit hutch he had lived in his entire life, but in a room under the roof of the main house. 

Mistress carried him up, up, up the stairs. She transferred him into a wide airy cage that stood by a dormer window. The bunny sniffed at the towel covering the bottom of the cage and spied lettuce and pellets, a water bowl, a little house, and a corner full of hay. As he dragged himself over for a taste, a finger poked through the metal.

"Touch his ears, they are so soft," said the freckled girl who hadn't left his side since Mistress brought him in.

"Careful. He is a living creature, Magpie." The lanky boy towered over his sister.

"I'm not a dummy, Luis, I know he is alive. Dumb-dumb."

"Don't you call me that. I am twice your age. I convinced Mother to keep him at the house, so you're welcome." His larger finger joined the exploration of the soft red fur.

"What's under that bandage? You think we can see the bones?" A third finger entered the cage and poked the bunny.

"Stop it, Charlie, you monster. He's a living creature." Maggie's eyes filled with tears. "He's my bunny, Mommy promised! You can't touch him." And she shoved the newcomer away.

"I don't want your lame bunny. He won't even hop." Charlie stomped out of the room.

"He will hop, he will. Just you wait and see. I'm gonna take good care of him. Mommy said he is such a lovely bunny, my lovely bunny." Maggie's small hand squeezed through the bars of the cage, and covered the bunny's head and back. "My Lovely."